Title: The role of natural resources in the Khmer Rouge-royal government of Cambodia peace negotiations and reinegration process
Author: O'Brien-Kelly, Martin J.
Year: 2006
Keywords: N/A
Theme: Civil society and Democracy
Advisor(s): Puangthong Pawakapan
The full thesis available here.
Abstract: The Khmer Rouge secession in 1996 marked the final end of Cambodia's long civilian rule. During the initial period of Cambodian government rule, the Khmer Rouge separatists broke away from the conservative Khmer Rouge elite and negotiated with the government. A win-win policy reinforced the secession, based on economic goals, power-sharing agreements, and promises to develop less important areas. The political parties viewed the separatists as valuable political commodities, using shadow governments to expand their patronage system over former Khmer Rouge members. Peace was enshrined, but laws and environmental considerations were sacrificed to achieve it. For example, a 1993 Act was violated to gain the allegiance of one separatist Khmer Rouge faction. This Act designated protected areas within former Khmer Rouge strongholds in Vil Veng, Persat Province. Furthermore, the win-win policy failed to address and incorporate the management of natural resources into the framework of peace negotiations and reintegration. This was necessary because the strongholds... Many Khmer Rouge estates possessed vast forests and significant deforestation potential. During the post-conflict development phase, conflicts arose over the management of these natural resources between communities being rehabilitated and the Ministry of Environment, which was empowered to protect wildlife reserves in Vil Ving. This research analyzes the motivations for peace, reflecting the government's intentions, as peace is not a financial but a political pursuit. The shadow government explains that... Economic considerations and the security of natural resources have been transformed into political commodities. Economic and political currents converge on win-win policies in conflicts, where forest resources play a crucial role. Peace negotiations must address natural resource management and integrate it into the reintegration process. This will ensure environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods for reintegrated communities. Community-based post-conflict development strategies, including natural resource (forest) management, can serve as a model for peacebuilding in conflicts stemming from forest resources. The 1996 Khmer Rouge (KR) defections were a precursor for the ultimate termination of Cambodia's protracted civil. During the Royal Government of Cambodia's (RGC) first mandate, KR factions broke from the hard-line KR elites and negotiated with the government. The Win-Win policy encourages these defections. This policy was based on economic goals, a power sharing agreement and promises of development for marginalized areas. Because the political parties viewed defecting KR units as valuable political commodities, they use shadow state politics to extend their respective patron-client systems to include former-KR people. Peace was achieved, but laws and the environment were sacrificed to achieve that peace. For example, the Royal Decree of 1993 was contravened to secure the allegiance of one KR faction. This decree designated a protected area in one former-KR stronghold, in Veal Veng, Pursat province. Moreover, the Win-Win policy failed to address and integrate natural resources management into the negotiation framework for peace and reintegration. This was imperative for many KR strongholds possessed vast forests and the potential for timber extraction. In the post-conflict development period, there has been conflict over natural resource management between the reintegrating community and the Ministry of Environment who is mandated to protect the wildlife sanctuary in Veal Veng. This research analyzes the motives for peace, which reveals the government's intentions for peace were not financial but political, Shadow State politics explains how economic considerations and natural resource wealth were transformed into political commodities. The currents of economics and politics converged in the Win-Win policy. In conflict where forest resources have played a role, the peace negotiations must address natural resources management and include this management in the reintegration process. This will ensure environmental protection and provide sustainable livelihoods for reintegrating communities. A community-based post-conflict development strategy including natural resource (forest) management can be a model for peace building where conflict has involved forest resources.